South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) announced the opening of its new artificial intelligence (AI) research lab, dedicated to strengthening the university’s AI capabilities.

UNIST today announced the opening of a new artificial intelligence (AI) research lab, dedicated to strengthening the university’s AI capabilities and nurturing creative human resources for the preparation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

A signboard-hanging ceremony was held to mark the official grand opening of Learning Commons II, so-called ‘AI Lab’. The new space boasts about 102 GPU computing workstations, 11 multimedia equipment, as well as an advanced data warehouse system with a capacity of 40TB. These equipment aim to provide an environment suitable for implementing artificial intelligence where complex mathematical calculations are must.

Located on the first floor of UNIST Library, this 380-square-meter space will serve as a research laboratory where students can explore research, involving machine learning, robotics, and AI. The lab, which opens for 24 hours, will serve as a hub for ideas—a place for students to explore the social, ethical, economic and even artistic implications of these emerging technologies during non-class times.

The launching of AI Lab has a special meaning to UNIST, as it has provided a framework for cultivating creative human resources for the preparation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This will provide facilities suitable for the undergraduate system that strengthens the artificial intelligence education that will be applied from 2018.

Starting from now, all undergraduate students at UNIST are required to take both AI Programming I and AI Programming II courses and will learn practical AI programming and information processing techniques.

“In this new, data-centered computing era, it is important to nurture talented people who are competent in this field,” says Director Taesung Kim of CTL. “The newly-built high-performance equipment-based AI Lab will become the next-generation leanring space to create a paradigm shift in learning and teaching in this digital age.”

Along with the opening ceremony, UNIST plans to reorganize and expand the current Center for Teaching and Learning, which is in charge of the deveopment of education model, into U-Education Innovation Center. The new center will implement UNIST-style education model and will lead the training of innovative talents by strengthening the education of future technologies related to the 4th industry such as artificial intelligence, software, and big data.